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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "trunk box" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "keep this confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "addo alice" <aliceaddo@ymail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:12:11 +0100
Subject: Miss Alice Addo


Dearest one,

l know this mail will come as a surprise to you. I have a proposal for
you to this project however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel
you to honor against your will. Your profile pushed me to send you this
mail, I am Miss Alice Addo, I am 22years old and the only daughter of my
late parents Mr. and Mrs. james Addo. My father was a highly reputable
farmer (a cocoa merchant) in Accra Ghana during his days.

It is sad to say that he was poisoned and passed away mysteriously in
France during one of his business trips abroad on 14th. May 2007.Though his
sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by my
uncle who traveled with him at that time. But God knows the truth! My mother
died when I was just 4 years old, and since then my father took me so
special.

Before he made the trip to France that lead to my misfortune (his death)
He called me and explained to me the reason why he will make this trip and
also told me that he deposited a trunk box that contain US$ 18.5m in a
Security Company here in Accra Ghana and that this money is for an
investment purpose overseas.

He gave me the certificate that he used for the deposit of the trunk
box and other vital documents of his asset, after his death l went to the
security company and establish ownership of the consignment. Now l need your
assistance to move this box to your country for investment as that has been
my late father's aim before his death.
Knowbody know about the box and it content. According to my father, the box
was deposited under maximum confidentiality as a family treasure, this
means that the security company has no right to check what is in side the
box, he said that if they find out that it contains money, they might want
to kill him and take the money so please try and keep this confidential so
that we will not have any problem from any where. now permit me to ask you
this question;

Can you honestly help me receive the said Box, what will you like to take
as your commission to assist me in this project? Please can you kindly
arrange a letter of invitation to enable me migrate to your country after
this fund might have lodge into your account? Are you ready to help and pay
all charges to the security company for the transfer of the box to your
country. If this proposal arouse your interest kindly contact me back with
my email address immediately.

Thanks for your Understanding
Anticipat Your Cooperation.
Miss Alice Addo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam